Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili says he is not bitter with criticism levelled against him following the Malawi National Women’s Football Team’s 2-0 loss to hosts South Africa at the just-ended Cosafa Women’s Championship.
Malawi recovered from the opening loss to thrash Lesotho 8-1 before edging Angola 1-0, but still bowed out in the group stage.
After the match, some supporters led by Precious Nkhata reportedly petitioned Football Association of Malawi (FAM), demanding changes in the Scorchers’ technical panel.
| Courtesy of FAM
But in an interview yesterday, Fazili, sounding calm, said the criticism and demands have not affected him in any way.
“I am sharply focused on fine-tuning the team for the forthcoming [2026] Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [Wafcon] in Morocco,” he said.
“I whole heartedly thank those who hailed us for the team’s performance at Cosafa and I also understand that those that criticised me were only exercising their right and I respect that.”
Fazili, who guided the Scorchers to their first-ever Cosafa title in 2023 before leading the team to a maiden Wafcon qualification, said he does not need to shout from the rooftop on his achievements with the team, “but I will let the work of my hands speak for me”.
He said: “What I can say is that I have so much respect for those that have coached the team before and the administration that is there.
“These are not life positions and when the time comes for me to bow out, I will do so.”
The coach said while the aim of participating in the tournament was to win, it has also helped them tune up for the continental showpiece.
Meanwhile, National Football Coaches Association has thrown its full weight behind Fazili and his backroom staff.
The coaches body’s chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni said: “We should not be shortsighted, we need to consider where Fazili has taken this team from.
“He led the team to its first-ever Cosafa glory and guided it to qualify for Wafcon for the first time and those are no mean achievements. If he has shortfalls, let’s help him by using the proper channels to raise them other than pointing fingers.
“We just have about two weeks before the Wafcon starts, let’s allow the coach to focus on fine-tuning the team.”
